Bhutan Highlights Tour - 14 Days

This is a compact tour that gradually unfolds the charisma and mystery of the Dragon Kingdom- Bhutan. The Bhutan Highlights Tour is the trip around all the best places of Bhutan that not only encapsulates the panorama of its fascinating landscapes but also the rich sights of the famous fortified Dzongs and fascinating monasteries. Our trip starts and ends in Paro. We cruise along the cities like Thimphu, Punakha and Bhumthang valley getting indulged in their charm. Stop by the small villages on the way and interact with the inhabitants, this will give you a real sense of their culture and life patterns. Better done than said, be a part of this tour and you will have lots to treasure and relate back home!

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Day 02: Trip preparation and Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Paro (2200m/1 hour)

Day 04: Drive from Paro to Chele La Pass (3900m/1 hour drive) & back to Paro

Day 05: Hike from Paro to Tiger - Nest Monastery (3120m/1 hour), visit village home & back to Paro (2200m)

Day 06: Drive from Paro to Thimphu and half day sightseeing (2350m/1 hour)

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks, which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Bhutan Government owned, ‘Druk Air’, in the only operational airlines flying in and out of Bhutan. Hence, the ‘Druk Air’ tickets will have to be booked at least 2-3 months in advance as they get sold out pretty early.

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your designated hotel. Once at the hotel, you are greeted with welcome drinks. We will then have a quick pre-trip meeting, where you are briefed on the trip itineraries and some formalities that ought to be pursued. Depending on the time remaining, you can either rest or stroll around the vicinity of your hotel to get the feel of this busy, colorful and energetic capital of Nepal. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

Marron Treks will assist you in Trip Preparation and other formalities. After the completion of all the formalities, hop in to our transport vehicle for a guided tour to the most historical and renowned landmarks in Kathmandu. Our guide will be taking you to visit the renowned sites listed in the UNESCO world’s heritage list - the Pasupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square and Boudhanath (the Maha Stupa). After this interesting and informative tour, we drive back to the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Paro (2200m/1 hour)

Upon your arrival to Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national airline carrier, you will be received by our representative at the airport. You will then be transported to your hotel where you are greeted with welcome drinks. After you check in, you may take your time to freshen up and relax to do away with the jet lag. In the evening, you can stroll around the nearby places of Paro along with the guide who will help you interact with the local people. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 04: Drive from Paro to Chele La Pass (3900m/1 hour)& back to Paro

This will be our second day in Paro. After breakfast, we will drive for about one and half hours and that will bring us to Chele La Pass, which is at an altitude of 3900 m. The trek commences with an uphill ascent for half an hour following a slightly shorter descent. On our way back to Paro, we trek to a monastery called Dzondrakha, which looks very akin to the famous Tiger Nest Monastery. It is almost an hour’s trek with the first half consisting of an easy walk along the agricultural land and the remaining half comprising of an uphill climb to reach the top where this beautiful monastery stands. From the top, one can behold the scenic beauty of the Paro valley. After this indulgence, we will proceed to visit one of the most inviting places in Bhutan, the National Museum. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 05: Hike from Paro to Tiger - Nest Monastery (3120m/1hour), visit village home & back to Paro

Early morning after breakfast, we resume our trek by visiting the Taktsang monastery, which take 1 hour. This monastery has its own history embedded in it and our guide will provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the same. We will then hike along the uphill route to a teahouse and halt there for lunch. The view of Taktsang is wonderful. After capturing the view in stills, we then return along the downhill route to Paro. Paro is a testimony to Bhutanese culture and their way of living. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 06: Drive from Paro to Thimphu and half day sightseeing (2350m/1 hour)

Today we will visit another appealing city, Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, which is at a meager two hours’ drive from Paro. After our arrival to Thimphu, we check in to our hotel and rejuvenate ourselves. We can then go for sightseeing in Thimphu. This city is a home to the School of Arts and Crafts where the Bhutanese students learn drawing, painting, woodcarving and sculpture. We then move on to visit other places like- The Heritage Museum, National Library, Changgangkha Lhakhang Temple and many other places. Overnight at hotel in Thimphu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Early morning after breakfast we drive to Punakha for 2.5 hours. On the way we stop at Dochu La Pass (3116m) to take the view of Eastern Himalayas, Gangkar Punsom etc. Our trail then descends down to the Punakha valley where we halt for lunch. From here we start a short trek and go around the local villages to know about the culture, way of living and many more. We come across Sonagasa, which is marked as the winter residence of the king. Following the Mo chu River we get on to our pick up vehicle and drive back to Punakha. In the evening time, we can explore the town along with our group members. Overnight at hotel in Punakha; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We drive down to the place called Wangdiphodrang where we can witness a very large fortress built in the shape of a sleeping bull. Moving ahead, we come across Pele La Pass (3300m). Here we can relish the view of the snow clad peaks as well as Bhutan’s sacred peak, Mt. Chomolhari. After 5-6 hours’ drive, we arrive in the town called Trongsa. Trongsa is popular for its largest Dzong in Bhutan. It has its own history embedded in it regarding the emergence of the royal family. Overnight at hotel in Trongsa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We start our day with the sightseeing in local places of Trongsa. After lunch we drive across the Yotung La pass (3400m) and then descend eventually into the valley of Chumey. In Chumey, we will visit the Domkhar Tashichholing Palace, home of the second King of Bhutan. From here, a hike of about 15 minutes will bring us to the Prakar Monastery (2685m). We then drive to Jakar (2800m), the center of Bhumtang valley. Bhumtang is regarded as one of the most sacred kingdoms and innumerable legends surround the area. It has an interesting history. Overnight at hotel in Bhumtang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Bhumtang valley sightseeing

Today after breakfast we will walk to Jambay Lhakang temple and then to Kaurjey Lhakang. From here we cross a bridge over to Tamshing Lhakang. Then we come across Swiss farm and that finally brings us to the town area. We drive further to visit other landmarks such as- the Cheese Factory, Castle of the White Bird, one or two local temples and walk around a bit more to visit woodcraft workshop, dying workshop and the five water wheels behind Wangdicholing Palace. Overnight at hotel in Bhumtang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Drive from Bhumtang to Punakha (1310m/7 hours)

We drive to Punakha from Jakar along the twisted mountain road towards the Yotung- La pass at an altitude of 3400m. We are now out of the Bhumtang Valley. This area is well known for Red the Panda. Then we come across Tongsa and we drive on passing Chendebji Stupa over the Pele La pass (3300m) and start the descent until we reach our hotel located on the bank of the river. Overnight at hotel in Punakha; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Drive from Punakha to Paro (2200m/4 hours)

After breakfast we drive back to Paro. Our today’s sightseeing includes the Isquo- temple of fertility and chimi lhakhang. In Isquo temple, the childless women offer prayers to receive blessings from the saint. Then we come across the rice fields which leads us to the settlement of Pana. We move back to our bus and drive to Thimphu enjoying the spectacular views of the Eastern Himalayas on the way. We have our lunch in Thimphu and then drive back to Paro. Overnight at hotel in Paro; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 13: Flight from Paro to Kathmandu (1400m/1 hour)

We will have breakfast and then proceed to check in for your flight. We bid a fond farewell to Bhutan and fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Take your time to relax and refresh yourself by indulging in shopping or strolling around some of the cultural and historical landmarks of Kathmandu. Thamel is your hot spot for shopping where you can haul all the souvenirs representing Nepal and its culture. May be that in addition to your interesting trip anecdotes, you would also want to take back some stuff for your friends and relatives. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Marron Treks. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

Day 14: Final departure

Unless you would want to extend your trip and try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc., this will be your last day in Nepal. A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport for the final departure to your homeland. Have a safe flight back home. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Important Snippets

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks, which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Bhutan Government owned, ‘Druk Air’, in the only operational airlines flying in and out of Bhutan. Hence, the ‘Druk Air’ tickets will have to be booked at least 2-3 months in advance as they get sold out pretty early.

During the trek, you will be accommodated in a Tea House/ Lodge or Trekking Inn. Most of these lodges and teahouses cater good services and are equipped with modern amenities. We will endeavor to provide you the best accommodation available along the route so that you get a good night’s rest in a hygienic milieu.

While in Bhutan, you will be accommodated in 3-4 Star lodges and hotels in Paro, Thimphu, Gangtey, Punakha etc as per your requirement.

Meals

We never compromise with the quality of food, as we are concerned about the health of our clients as well as staff members. Generally, we opt for the locally available fresh and nutritious community food, viz. dried meat cooked with hot chilies, Ema Datshi (vegetarian dish made out of cheese and chili) etc, so that you have the opportunity to taste something new and also get a real sense of the native culture and life patterns. Besides, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads etc. are also available at the restaurants for your retreat.

Best Months

The month of January-May & September-December are considered to be best months for Bhutan Highlights Tour.

Our Guides

Guides play the most significant role in trekking. Marron Treks has literate, experienced and helpful trekking guides who are multilingual speakers and are very well versed to the culture, language, location and every single detail pertaining to Bhutan. Hence your trek becomes informative as well as entertaining.

Access to enter Bhutan

Bhutan is well connected to the outside world through Druk Air (Royal Bhutanese Airlines), the national carrier which is the only airline operating flights in and out of the kingdom. The country's only airport is situated at Paro and two flights a week from Kathmandu (Nepal).

Travel Insurance

It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both medical as well as evacuation costs. Having a travel insurance with you makes you trip safe and hassle free.

Bhutan Visa Requirement

Unlike other countries, Bhutanese Visa can be obtained only after entering the country itself as it does not have any embassy abroad. Hence, after Marron Treks receives your booking confirmation, you need to send us the details below along with the copies of your valid passport and recent PP sized photograph. We will then initiate your visa processing. It takes about 2 weeks for the visa to be granted. The visa application has to be submitted to the Department of Tourism in Bhutan and then finally it is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But we do not want you to get into the rigmaroles of doing this all by yourself. All you need to do is send us the details below (along with the copies of passport and recent pp sized photograph) and we will take care of the rest in coordination with our agent in Bhutan. You will get the visa upon your arrival at the airport in Bhutan. You are entitled to pay the nominal visa fee of US $20. Visa extension fee for a period not exceeding six months is NU510 (US $ 8.24). Since the tourist visas are issued for the full period of stay in Bhutan, it is very unlikely that you would need a visa extension. Please note that the above conditions apply to all the nationalities except the Indians. The Indian citizens do not require a visa or a passport, but they need to provide some form of identification such as a copy of driving license, citizenship etc. along with five copies of PP sized photographs. Generally, they are issued a permit of 14 days which can be extended as necessary.

Full Name: ……………………………………………………

Permanent Address: ………………………………………………

Place of Birth: ………………………………………………………

Date of Birth: ………………………………………………………

Nationality:…………………………………………………………

Nature of Passport: Diplomatic/Official/Ordinary/UN Laisser-Passer.

Passport Number: …………………………………………………

Date of Issue: …………………………………………………………

Place of Issue: ………………………………………………………

Date of Expiry:………………………………………………………

Occupation/Profession

Period for which visa is required: …………………………………

Point of Entry/Exit into Bhutan: Entry: ………………Exit: ………

Purpose of visiting Bhutan: …………………………………………

Is this first visit to Bhutan? YES /NO. If not, give details of your earlier visit.

Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days costs US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days costs US $40 and $ 100 respectively. You will need a valid passport and 2 copies of your recent PP sized photos).

Tip for tour guides, driver, hotel lobby staff and waiters. (Tipping is expected but not mandatory).

Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies.

Other expenses not mentioned in the “Cost Includes” section above.

Since we are not trekking to soaring altitudes, we do not actually have to travel with a cartload of gears. Traveling light is the best way to travel, but yes we need to make sure that we don't miss out the necessary items. Here's a suggestive list for you, but you needn't be so strict about it and can always have your own checklist.

Nothing hard and fast about carrying the items in this list asthey are not the basics. Yet, though not all, if you still manage to squeeze in some of these items on your carry, you will not regret as they might just come handy during the tripCamera, memory card and battery charger

GPS unit Altimeters
Binoculars Books and magazines

Departure Date

Unfortunately, we do not have fixed departure dates for this package. Please let us know your preferred travel schedule. We shall endeavor our best to make sure that the trip is organized in tandem with your suitable time frame.

Trip Facts

Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request)

Trip Type: Private Tour

Trip Grade: Moderate

Transportation: Flight/Private car

Highest Elevation: Chele La Pass (3900m)

Lowest Elevation: Punakha (1310m)

Average Trekking Hours: 2- 3 Hours

Average Driving Hours: 4 Hours

Trip Commences From: Kathmandu (1400m)

Trip Terminates At: Kathmandu (1400m)

Best Months: Jan-May & Sep-Dec

Trip Highlights

Explore the famed historical and cultural heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley, with an experienced and amiable city guide

Scenic flight from Kathmandu to Paro unfolding the magnificence of the world’s highest peaks and the lush green Paro valley

Hike to the legendary Tiger Nest/Takatang Monastery (3120m)

A guided sightseeing tour from Thimpu to Paro, visiting all the major tourist attraction landmarks

A visit to the Domkhar Tashichholing Palace, home of the second King of Bhutan

Drive up the Dochu La Pass, at a staggering 3116m and relish the unprecedented views of Eastern Himalayas, Gangkar Punsom etc.